Tape-serving mechanism



Sept.7 l, 1942. A, P KRUEGER Y 2,294,670

TAPE-SERVING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 4, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedSept. 1, 1942 TAPE-SERVING MECHANISM I Alfred P. Krueger, Stratford,Conn., assignor to Derby Sealers, Incorporated, Derby, Conn., acorporation of Connecticut Application August 4, 1939, Serial No.288,286

14 Claims.

This invention relates to tape-serving mechanisms, and more particularlyto a device for delivering a gummed tape or paper strip from a source ofsupply such as a roll or the like, in moistened condition ready forapplication to a parcel or package. y

Devices of this character consist, generally speaking, of means formounting and supporting the tape supply, which usually is in the form ofa roll, a moistening element designed to be kept in moistened conditionfrom a source of liquid supply, and guiding means for guiding the stripof tape from the roll to the moistening element.

Also there is provided in the present instanceA a knife edge or severingdevice by means of which, when a predetermined length of `tape has beendrawn from the machine, it may be conveniently severed for applicationto the package.

When rolls of gummed tape are furnished, the tape in some instances isrolled up with the gummecl surface inside, and in other instances it isfurnished with the gummed surface on the outside of each coil. It is,therefore, advantageous to provide a device suitable for use with rollsof either character, such that a roll having wherein a roll of tape maybe placed thereon and the mounting means thereafter returned tooperative position. In addition it is usually desirable tc apply sometension to the roll of tape to prevent too free rotation of the rollwhen a strip is being drawn therefrom. This tension is not usually`necessary when the roll has been freshly put on and is of large size,but as lthe roll becomes smaller and lighter it tends to rotate morefreely, and some tension is usually desirable.

One object of the present invention is to provide a tape-servingmechanism having a rollsupporting spindle such that it is movable to anelevated position of rest so that a new roll of tape may be convenientlylocated thereon.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tape-servingdevice with a swingable arm carrying a roll-supporting spindle, and-alsocarrying a guide roller disposed below this arm when the latter is inoperative position, whereby the tape is caused to wrap litself aroundthis roller when the arm is swung downwardly to operative position.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of atape-serving mechanism having a swingable roll spindle and also havingmeans below said spindle to support the roll of tape from below, suchthat the force of gravity acting upon the roll will tend to tension theroll to some extent against turning.

A still further object of the invention is the provision in a device ofthe character described of a roll-tensioning means which becomesoperative only when the roll has been diminished to a predetermined sizeat which the tension is needed, and which tension becomes greater as thesize of the roll is further diminished.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of atape-serving mechanism wherein may be employed a roll of tape with thegummed surface either at the inside or the outside of the coils withoutany alteration of the mechanism.

To these vand other ends the invention consists in the novel featuresand combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a tape-serving mechanism embodying myinvention Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2 2 of Fig. 1, with theroll-supporting spindle and roll thereon shown in dotted lines in theloading position; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a modified form of mydevice showing a'mechanism for supporting and serving a plurality ofrolls of tape which may be of different widths;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a modified formof the mechanism disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2;V and Fig. 5 is a sectionalview of the liquid receptacle and moistening device shown in Figs. 1 and2.

.To illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention I have shown inFigs. 1 and 2 of the drawings a tape-serving mechanism comprising asupporting standard or frame having side plates I0 andII, which platesmay be connected by suitable Webs I2, I3 and I4. Rotatably mounted inthe side plates I0 and II is a spindle I5, and if desired these sideplates may be provided `with bosses I6 to provide extended bearingsurfaces for the spindle. Secured upon one end of this spindle by a nutI'I is a roll-supporting arm I 8,'the arm preferably beingrigid lwiththe spindle so as to turn therewith, although 'this is notnecesveniently cleaned.

sary, for, as will be obvious, the arm I8 may be rotatable upon thespindle I if desired.' A cotter pin I9 may be passed through the spindlein order. to hold it in place.

At the free end of the arm I8 is secured a rollsupporting spindle 20upon which the roll 2l of gurnmed tape or paper may be rotatablymounted, so that the roll is free to rotate as the strip of tape isldelivered therefrom. It may also be noted that the arm I8 has an offsetportion adjacent its forward end providing a shoulder 22,which-shoulder, when the arm is in raised position for loading, as shown,in dotted lines in Fig. 2, will strike against a part of the mechanismand support the arm in this position. It may also be noted that the armwill be beyond dead center position, or on the opposite side of thespindle I5 from the position the arm assumes in operation, so that itwill, when supported by the shoulder 22, be at rest and have no tendencyto return to its operative position.

Below `the spindle 20 a roller 23 is rotatably mounted between the framemembers I0 and II, which roller, as shown in Fig. 2, is adapted tosupport the roll of tape 2I from below; that is, when the roll of tapeis loaded upon the spindle 20 and the arrn I8 returned from the dottedline position shown in Fig. 2 to the full line position,

vthe roll of tape 2l will rest upon the roller 23 under the force ofgravity, and thus some ten-v sion will be placed upon the roll torestrict its tendency to rotate.

' Upon the web I3 is provided a leaf spring lIl), l

of resilient material, this spring being secured at its rear end to theweb I3 and being left free at its forward end.v As has been previouslystated,1

it has been found unnecessary to provide tensioning means lwhen the rollof tape 2I is of large size. This is particularly true in the pres- `entinstance, when some tension will be provided on this roll by vthe forceof gravity urging the roll against the roller 23, and therefore in thepresent arrangement the tensioning spring 40 does not become effectiveuntil the size ofy the roll 2| has been considerably diminished. When,however, the diameter of the roll 2I is sumciently small and the arm vI8has been allowed to descend under the force of gravity, the

roller will rest upon the free end of the spring The arm I8 is providedwith a`downward1y extending portion 24 upon which is rotatably mounted aroller 25 designed to guide'the strip of tape as it is delivered fromthe roll 2|. From this roller the strip of tape passes to a second guideroller 26 rotatably mounted upon the spindle I5 andit may here be notedthat the roller 26 is provided with reduced end portions 21, shownl moreparticularly in Fig. 1, and a relatively enlarged central portion 28.

Supported upon the frame bythe web I4 forwardlyfof the roller 26 is aliquid receptacle 28 having a cover 3l) so'designed as toprovide a slot3l at the top of the receptacle, through which slot projects a brush orother moistening device v32, which may be supported upon the receptaclebottom.

At the rear edge the receptacle is provided with an integrally formedguide lip 33 extending rearwardly from the receptacle to bridge thespace between the latterand the guide roller` 26, This guide lip is cutaway at its central portion to allow for the enlarged portion 28 of theroller 26 and to provide vrearwardly extending tongues 34 to projectover the reduced end portions 21 of the roller 26. It will be apparentthat with this arrangement of the lip 33 and guide roller 26, lip 33eiectively bridges the space between the receptacle and the upperportion of the roller so that the tape will be properly guided over thelip to the moistening element 32, and will have no tendency to `passaround the roller 26 and between it and the receptacle. It may-also benoted at this pointv that the receptacle 29j as shown in Fig. 2, restsremovably upon the web I I, being confined at its lower portion betweenshoulders 35 and 36 on this web. The receptacle may,`therefore, bereadily removed in order that it and the parts associated therewithrnaybe con- Resting upon and secured to the`side`plates I0 and II is a plate31 having a forward-severing edge or knife edge 38 by means of which the40, with the strip of tape therebetween, so that tension will be placedupon the strip. It will also be obvious that as the arm I8 is permittedto occupy a still lower position due to the further decrease in size ofthe tape roll 2I, the'spring '40 will be depressed and the 'tension uponthe strip of tape against the roller 25 will be increased. Thus, as theroll of tape becomes smaller and the necessity for -additional tensionarises, such additional tension is automatically provided.

Inl the operation of this form of my device, the arm I8 is swung to thedotted line position shown in Fig. 2, which position, it will be noted,

is beyond dead center, with the shoulder 22 contacting in this instancewith the upper surface of the cut-01T Yplate;31 so that the arm will beat rest and will need no further attention while the roll of tape 2| isbeing mounted upon the spindle 20. The end of thetape is drawn from vtheroll and passed. below the roller 25 and tion in that figure, so thatthe bottom portion of the roll of tape rests upon the roller 23. ItVwill be noted that during this operation the tape is caused to wrapitself about the guide roller 25 due to the fact that this roller ispositioned below the armv I8. The device is then ready for use, and asthe roller 25 is also below the roller 26, it will be seen that there isabundant room for the operator to place'v the' fingers of one hand uponVthe kupper surface of the tape above the roller 26, so as to move thetape forwardly in order that the end mayprotrude beyond the edge of thecut-otr 'plate 31 and be grasped by the fingers, tobe drawnA from thedevice. l V

It will also be observed that a rollof tape having the gummedsurfaceupon the, inside or outf sidel of the coils may be employed in thepresent device. Whenthe gummedsurfaceis at the inv-` side, the rolly 2lis placed uponthe spindle so that the strip of tape' is rtaken from theupper side In Fig. 3 of the drawings I have shown a top plan view of adevice for supporting a multiplicity of rolls of tape. In this instancethe supporting frame of the device is provided with side plates 45 and46. and also an intermediate partition 41. The spindle 48 projects fromthe plates 45 and 46 at both ends, and upon each end is secured aswinging arm designated by the reference numerals 49 and 49B. Tworollers 59 and 5I are provided upon the spindle 48, these rollerscorresponding to the roller 26 in form and operation. Each of the arms49 and 49 is provided wit a roll-supporting spindle, which spindles aredesignated by the reference characters 52 and 53. Each of the arms 49and 49Il also carries a guide roller designated by the numerals 54 and55, these rollers being supported below the arms` 49, 4 9, as is thecase with the roller 25 shown in 2.

Below the rollers 54 and 55 are provided tensioning springs 56 and 51,corresponding in form and operation to the spring 49 shown in Fig. 2.Also supporting rollers 58 and 59 are provided to support the rolls oftape 69 and 6I from below, as

does the roller 23, shown in Fig. 2. It willpbe understood that therollers 58 and 59 are separate, and individually rotatable, so that therotation of one of the rolls 69 or 6I will not have a tendency to rotatethe other.

- exerted onthe strip of tape by the latter. As will be observed, thetape roll 2| is still supported supported on v.thev frame tofl contactthe surface spindle to carry a roll of tape, means on Vthe A cut-offknife 63 is provided extending across both rollers 59 and 5I, as doesalso the moistening element 64 and the liquid receptacle 65. It will beappreciated that the arms 49 and 498 are individually raisable toloading position, as has already been described in connection with thatform of my device shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the arm 49L being pivoted uponthe spindle 48 so that A it is free to swing relatively to this spindle,

whereby either of the arms may be raised independently to place a rollof tape thereon. As

shown, the spindle 53 is shorter than the spindle 52, so that it willaccommodate a roll of narrow tape, and accordingly the rollers 5I and 55are shorter than the rollers 59 and 54, as is also the case with thevsprings 51 and 56. It may be observed that not only can two rolls ofdifferentwidths be employed at the same time with this mechanism andused independently of each other, but also one roll may have its gummedsurface inside and the other its gummed surface outside, regardless ofwhich may be the narrow and which the wider roll.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings I have shown a somewhat modied form of thedevice shown in Figs. l and 2, wherein the liquid supply receptacle 19is formed integrally with the supporting frame. In this instance thesevering knife 1I may be removably secured to the frame by means ofscrews 12, so that the knife may be readily removed to effect convenientcleaning of the associated parts. It will, of course, be understood thatthe knife may be removably secured in place in the device shown in Fig.2, but it is usually not necessary V for pivotally supportingsaid'SIiindle, v

' which projects 'over the 'surface of the roller 26 at the endsthereof, and otherwise the device shown in Fig. 4 is like that shown inFig. 2. in Fig. 4 the-device is shownv in the position occupied by theparts when the roll of tape has been so diminished in diameter that theroller 25 is resting upon the spring 49 so that tension is upon theroller 23.

While I have shown and described some preferred embodiments of-myinvention, it will be understood that it is not to be limited to all ofthe details shown, but is capableof modification and variation withinthe spirit of the inventionand within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: f y

` 1. A tape-serving device comprising a frame. a

spindle-to carry a roll of tape, means on the frame for pivotallylsupporting said spindle, said means comprising an arm pivoted to theframe 'to'whioh the spindle is secured ata point remote from the pivot,a guide roller carried by said arm about which the tape is trained, andatensioning'member on the frame against which the tape is pressed bysaid roller. l

2. A tape-serving device comprising a frame, l a spindle to carry a rollof tape, means on the frame for pivotally. supporting said spindle,`said means comprising an arm pivoted to the frame to which the spindleis secured at'a point remote from the pivot',` a guide roller carried bysaid arm about which the tape 1s trained, and a spring 1 i of the tapeopposite said roller. y i

3. A tape-serving device comprisinga frame, a

frame for pivotally supporting said spindle, said means comprising anarm pivotedv tothe frame to which the spindle is secured 'at `a point`remoteA about which the tape is trained, and atensioning I deviceadjacent, saidroller to contact the'- strip of tape passing thereover.4. A tape-serving devicecomprising af frame;-i2 a spindle to carry :arollfof tape, means 4on'tl'ie i frame for pivotally supporting-saidspindle, said .l means comprising anarm pivoted to the' on which thespindle is mountedata point ref- A mote from `the pivot, aroller-onthe'Heinemann` y which said tape roll rests undervtlnefaetiim-of.;V gravity, tensioning means engaging -saidff tape"4forwardly of said rollen-andi means ons'aidfarm to press the tapeagainst the-tensioning' means 5. A tape-serving device comprisingafiramef, a .n spindle to carry a, roll of tape', means 011: the-'frame1 comprising an arm pivoted to'th'effl'ilnfl to which the spindle issecured at a point'remote;troni'the-yl pivot, a guide roller carried bysaid arm andV ing its axis disposed belowsaidf'armwhenthe latter is inoperative position, andatensioning member against which the tape ispressed by, "id" roller. l 6. A tape-serving device comprisingl alframe, an arm, pivotally mounted on the 'frame@tape'v E roll carrying'means supported by said arm-,1 af* tensioning device. carried by theframeand en-` -f gaging the tape after the latter leaves the roll, andmeans on said arm to press said tape against the tensioning device. v f'1. A tape-serving device comprising a frame, an arm pivoted to theframe, a roll of 'tapecar- Y' ried by saidA arm, supporting meanscarried by Y the frame upon which the roll is adapted torest, I

a spring-pressed tensioning element disposed forwardly of saidsupporting means, and means on said arm to press the tape against thetensioning element.

8. A tape-serving device comprisingv a frame, an arm pivoted totheframe, a roll of tape carried by said arm, supporting means carried bythe frame upon which the roll is adapted to rest, a spring-pressedtensioning element, and means on said arm to press the tape against thetensioning element, said means increasing the tension on the tape as thesize of the roll oi' tape is diminished.

9. A tape-serving device comprising a frame, a tape-roll-carrying armpivoted thereto, tensioning means between which the tape is gripped asit is delivered from the roll, said means comprising a member on theframe and a cooperating member on said pivoted arm.

10. A tape-serving device comprising a frame. a tape-roli-carrying armpivoted thereto, tensioning means between which the tape passes as it isdelivered from the roll, said means comprising a member on the frame anda cooperating member on said pivoted arm, and one of said members beingspring pressed toward the other.

11. A tape-serving device comprisinga frame, a tape-roll-carrying armpivoted thereto, tensioning means between which the tape passes as i itis delivered from the roll, said means comprising a member on the frameand a cooperating 12. A tape-serving device comprising a frame. an armpivoted to the frame adjacent one of its ends and carrying atape-roii-supporting spindle adjacent the other end whereby saidlast-named end is supported from the frame by the roll of tape, anelement on said arm against which the tape passes, and means on theframe to press said tape against said member and apply tension to thetape.

13. A tape-serving device comprising a frame, an arm pivoted to thetrame adjacent one oi.' its ends and carrying a tape-roll-supportingspindle adjacent the other end whereby said last-named end is supportedfrom the frame by the roll of tape. an element on said arm against whichthe tape passes, and means on the frame to press said tape against saidmember and apply tension to the tape, one of said cooperating tensioningelements being spring pressed whereby the tension is increased as thesize lo! the roll of tape decreases.

14. A tape-serving device comprising a frame, a spindle to carry a rollof tape, guiding means `through which the tape passes, means on theframe for pivotally supporting said spindle, said means comprising anarm pivoted to the frame on which the spindle is mounted at a pointremote from the pivot, means on the frame upon which the tape rollrestsvunder the action' of gravity, tensioning means engaging the tapebetween said rest means and said guiding means, and means on said arm topress the tape agains said tensioning means.

. ALFRED P. KRUEGER.

